Three people were injured in two separate snowmobile accidents Saturday - one near Tower, the other near Crane Lake. All three victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment, and then later released.
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A CN train hauling 107 cars derailed south of Three Lakes Road. Thirteen of the cars carried hazardous or potentially hazardous materials, but all have been contained, and the sheriff's office says there is no threat to public safety. Clean up is underway.
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Measles is a very contagious respiratory disease that is especially dangerous for babies and children under age 5. The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. Find resources here to learn the facts about the disease and the vaccine.

The St. Louis County Board has approved a .05% sales tax, which goes into effect April 1, and will raise an estimated $10.5 million annually for transportation-related projects. It's projected that 30-40% of this revenue will be paid by non-county residents who travel on county roads to visit, work or shop.

A permit is required for most construction on parcels located outside municipalities (cities) and organized townships that administer their own zoning. Likewise, a permit is needed for construction, installation, or renovation of any septic system, privy, or holding tank.

They maintain 3,000 miles of roads in the summer, and then plow those roads in the winter and spring. They’re always planning ahead – sometimes years into the future – on road and bridge reconstruction projects, and yet, as was proven following the 2012 flood, can shift resources at remarkable speed to respond to disaster.

With approximately 300 employees, the Public Works Department is the second largest department in the county. It’s also the most spread out, operating out of 18 garages to provide the best service across the county’s 7,000+ square miles. As part of its responsibility for roads, the department also oversees nearly 600 bridges and 40,000 traffic signs.

This year, the Public Works Department expects to wrap up its last major flood-related project – the rebuilding of Highland Street and 57th Avenue West. The above photo was taken in June and shows the construction of what will be a 183-foot bridge spanning Keene Creek. The $10.7 million project is the second largest ever for the county. (The largest project – the rebuilding of Haines Road – was completed last year and has since been recognized as the best project in the state by the Minnesota County Highway Engineers Association.)

Minnesota Statutes section 471.701 requires counties and cities with a population of more than 15,000 to annually notify its residents of the positions and base salaries of its three highest-paid employees. For St. Louis County, titles and salaries as of January 1, 2015 are:
County Administrator: $170,269
County Attorney: $146,453
Public Health & Human Services Director: $139,693

Chronic knee pain, hearing loss and Tinnitus, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): what do they have in common? They all are disabilities that can be linked to military service. Sherry Rodriguez, director of Veterans Service for St. Louis County, explains why it's important for all veterans to check in with her office, even if they've been denied benefits in the past.

It's one of the most common New Year's resolutions made each year. Unfortunately, quitting smoking is also one of the most frequently broken resolutions each year.
Public Health and Human Services Director Ann Busche offers tips to increase a smoker's odds for success at quitting, along with reminders of why it's so important to break this deadly habit.